The U.S. government on Wednesday warned that a hacking group linked to the Chinese government has launched attacks on technology service providers.
The Department of Homeland issued a technical alert for the group, known as cloudhopper, which it said was engaged in cyber espionage and theft of intellectual property, after experts with two prominent U.S. cybersecurity companies warned earlier this week that Chinese hacking activity has surged amid the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing.
Chinese authorities have repeatedly denied claims by Western cyber security firms that it supports hacking.
Homeland Security released the information to support U.S. companies in responding to attacks by the group, which is targeting information technology, energy, healthcare, communications and manufacturing firms.
“These cyber threat actors are still active and we strongly encourage our partners in government and industry to work together to defend against this threat,” DHS official Christopher Krebs said in a statement.
The reported increase in Chinese hacking follows what cybersecurity firms have described as a lull in such attacks prompted by a 2015 agreement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and former U.S. President Barrack Obama to curb cyber-enabled economic theft.
“I can tell you now unfortunately the Chinese are back,” Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer of U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, said Tuesday at a security conference in Washington, D.C.
“We’ve seen a huge pickup in activity over the past year and a half. Nowadays they are the most predominant threat actors we see threatening institutions all over this country and western Europe,” he said.
Analysts with FireEye, another U.S. cybersecurity firm, said that some of the Chinese hacking groups it tracks have become more active in recent months.
Wednesday’s alert provided advice on how U.S. firms can prevent, identify and remediate attacks by cloudhopper, which is also known as Red Leaves and APT10.
The hacking group has largely targeted firms known as managed service providers, which supply telecommunications, technology and other services to business around the globe. Managed service providers, or MSPs, are attractive targets because their networks provide routes for hackers to access sensitive systems of their many clients, said Ben Read, a senior intelligence manager with FireEye.
“We’ve seen this group route malware through an MSP network to other targets,” Read said.
The World Bank has upped its 2018 growth forecast for Vietnam to 6.8 percent, but warned of trade war fallout.
The latest forecast is an increase of 0.3 percentage points from the one it made in April.
According to the World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific Economic Update October 2018 released Thursday, 2018 growth is expected to be robust in Thailand and Vietnam, before slowing in 2019 and 2020 as stronger domestic demand only partially offsets the moderation in net export growth.
The report forecasts that Vietnam’s growth will fall to 6.6 percent in 2019 and 6.5 percent in 2020.
It also warned Vietnam and other countries in the East Asia and Pacific of possible negative impacts from the rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
The U.S. has focused its recent tariff increases on trading partners with whom it has a sizeable bilateral trade deficit, the report noted.
There is a risk that if countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam supplant Chinese exports, their rising prominence in the U.S. trade profile might encourage U.S. policymakers to raise tariffs on imports from those countries as well, it added.
As Vietnam sources a relatively large share of its goods from China, it could face increasing competition in domestic markets from Chinese goods seeking alternative export destinations, the report said.
China was Vietnam’s largest import market with a value of $41.63 billion from January to August, accounting for over 27 percent of Vietnam’s total imports, according to Vietnam Customs.
The report also expressed concern over Vietnam’s inflation rate, which is edging up along with that of Myanmar and the Philippines.
Vietnam’s inflation in the first nine months this year was calculated at 3.57 percent. The target for the year is 4 percent.
The reason for the rise in Vietnam’s consumer price index this year is a surge in food, transportation and healthcare prices, the report said.
It also said that currency depreciation in Vietnam could put upward pressure on inflation as the domestic price of imports rises.
However, the World Bank report is optimistic about the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), saying it could generate a modest but significant decrease in Vietnam’s poverty rate.
By 2030, CPTPP membership is expected to enable more than 600,000 Vietnamese to rise above the poverty line, reducing the poverty rate by about 0.57 percentage points.
In the first nine months this year, Vietnam’s GDP grew by 6.98 percent, the highest nine-month growth rate since 2011.
In a report issued last month, the Asian Development Bank forecast Vietnam’s GDP to expand by 6.9 percent this year.
The economy grew by 6.81 percent last year, the highest rate in a decade.
There were positive signs all around on Vietnam’s stock market on October 4.
On HSX, the VN-Index closed at 1,023.62 points, up 3.22 points (0.32 per cent), while the VN30-Index closed at 993.61 points, up 3.01 points (0.30 per cent).
On HNX, the HNX-Index finished at 116.27 points, up 0.98 points (0.85 per cent), the HNX30-Index 216.91 points, up 1.25 points (0.58 per cent), and the UPCoM-Index 54.55 points, up 0.14 points (0.26 per cent).
Liquidity on HSX was VND4.36 trillion ($186.8 million) and on HNX was VND729.7 billion ($31.2 million).
Food and beverage stocks to gain ground included KDC, TLG and SAB, by 1.3, 0.8 and 0.1 per cent, as BHN lost 0.9 per cent and VCF 0.3 per cent. VNM closed at its opening price.
Gainers in banking included MBB, SSI, TCB, TPB and VPB, by 3.9, 2.9, 2.9, 2.7 and 1 per cent. BVH lost 0.5 per cent and EIB 0.3 per cent while VCB and STB closed at their opening price.
In energy, PVD gained 4.3 per cent, GAS and PLX 1.1 per cent, and PPC 0.5 per cent as PGD lost 1.6 per cent and NT2 and PVT closed at their opening price.
The Top 5 shares bought by foreign investors were DHG, KBC, CTG, DGW and SSI.
HPG was the largest net sold share on HSX, followed by VJC, HDB, PVD and VNM.
VGC was the largest net sold share on HNX, followed by ACB, PVB, BVS and VCG.
The HCMC government will not use the capital advanced by Vingroup to execute a project to upgrade the flood-prone Nguyen Huu Canh Street connecting District 1 and Binh Thanh, Thanh Nien newspaper reported, citing HCMC Vice Chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen.
Tuyen said on October 3 that the city’s budget can cover the project. The city government has assigned the Department of Transport to complete the project based on the initial plan to ensure its progress.
The municipal Department of Transport had earlier approved the project to improve Nguyen Huu Canh Street with an estimated investment of VND473 billion (US$20.3 million). The project, which will be developed by Urban Traffic Management Zone No. 1, was expected to be started this year for completion next year.
The project involves repairing the road and building a wastewater drainage system to prevent flooding on the street, ensure traffic safety and protect the beauty of the urban landscape.
Vingroup had earlier offered VND526.7 billion in advance to upgrade Nguyen Huu Canh Street. It is not announced why Vingroup proposed funding for this project, but the group is the owner of two top-tier property projects along the road, including the country’s highest skyscraper Landmark 81.
It has been 30 years since Việt Nam promulgated the Law on Foreign Investment on December 29, 1987. This was an important milestone that made it possible for Việt Nam to open up its economy and integrate with the world. Many global leading companies have entered Việt Nam, such as Coca-cola, Intel, Canon, Samsung, Toyota, FedEx and others. More importantly, most of these corporations are looking to expand business here in the long run.
A World Bank expert and representatives from foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, including Coca-cola and Canon, have made comments on the country’s 30 years of progress in attracting FDI
Sebastian Eckardt, World Bank’s Lead Economist for Vietnam
Sebastian Eckardt, World Bank’s Lead Economist for Vietnam
Việt Nam has been quite successful in attracting FDI ever since the country opened up to foreign investment. If we look at the impact, we can say that FDI has really contributed in various ways, including industrialisation, where a lot of investment went into the manufacturing sector, building capacity across a range of sectors including electronics, but also more traditionalised industries such as garment and shoe factories, and so on.
It also contributed to increase Việt Nam’s exports and create jobs with higher productivity and better incomes. So I think it’s a very successful part of Việt Nam’s overall economic development over the last three decades.
Việt Nam is definitely one of the leaders in the region in terms of FDI attraction if you look at FDI as a share of GDP. Now what is important to note is that a lot of this investment is currently flowing into labour-intensive but relatively low-skill industries, or final assembly. Việt Nam is competitive in one particular part of the value chain where the value-added per worker is relatively low, because a lot of the components are imported.
I think there is still more on the agenda in terms of moving to the next level of attracting different types of FDI, diversifying across the value chain and particularly moving into the higher-value component of the value chain, being R&D or downstream like marketing and brand development. That would add a lot more value and would generate higher benefits for the economy.
Việt Nam is not underperforming but it needs to continue to become more competitive, which means investing in skills and well-connected infrastructure (port, roads, rail and transport network) because how quickly you can import and export goods is absolutely critical in the value chain.
We know that technological progress is of course a good thing, and like the other industrial revolutions it will actually improve life for millions of people, but it is important to prepare people with the right skills so they can find jobs and productive employment that complement these technologies rather than compete with technology. So I think investing in good education, especially science-technology and math education, is important because those are really the skills that I think will be in demand in the future.
Sanket Ray, general director of Coca-Cola Vietnam
Sanket Ray, general director of Coca-Cola Vietnam
Việt Nam continues to attract a lot of foreign investments, as the local economy continues its growth and good performance.
As a foreigner investor in Việt Nam’s beverage sector, we really appreciate the support from the Vietnamese Government since our first day of operations. The support of policies and the investment environment for FDIs allows us to continue our mission of sustainable development and bring more quality products to consumers as well as conduct our community support.
We believe that foreign investors should be further supported by Việt Nam with more stable and consistent legal policies. With regard to supply chain issues, we also look forward to the improvement of Vietnamese enterprises in technology and products innovation, as we look forward to integrating them into our local supply chain.
In order to strengthen the linkage between FDI enterprises and domestic enterprises, we need to build the support of and commitment from both parties.
Vietnamese enterprises must upgrade their technology and absorption capacity to improve their capacity. Foreign enterprises should actively create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to have a chance to increase their participation in the value chain.
Currently, there are more than 500,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating and contributing significantly to the overall economy of the country. However, SMEs still face many challenges and need support to upscale their operations, leverage technology and develop their human resources and management skills.
Vietnamese enterprises must actively connect and change the technology as well as develop their human resources and management skills and products to meet the requirements of FDI enterprises.
Keisuke Taniguchi, deputy senior general manager of Administrative Centre, Canon Vietnam
Keisuke Taniguchi, Canon Vietnam
We highly appreciate the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in improving the business and investment environment. In particular, the Government has recognised and abolished some administrative procedures that save time and money, such as taxation, e-customs and social insurance.
The Government should have policies to ensure laws and institutions are stable so that businesses can rest assured of production, while at the same time training and nurturing human resources to provide a stable and high-quality workforce for businesses.
As for technology transfer, we have been transferring technology to suppliers in Việt Nam. However, there is not much and only in the form of potential because actually, the suppliers of Việt Nam are yet to have a big enough vision for us to transfer technology.
In the coming time, with the trend of the Industry 4.0, Việt Nam needs to have a new FDI attraction orientation to prepare for this revolution. FDI enterprises are expecting and planning to build 4.0 factories to limit the risks of increasing labour costs. Therefore, Việt Nam needs a high quality human resource training system ready for this.
In fact, modern machines are used in production but without human control, the system is not operating perfectly. If there is high-skilled workforce, Việt Nam can expect to be able to develop in the 4.0 economy. We look forward to the Vietnamese Government working together with the business community in their efforts to increase their productivity.
The new VinFast cars, which are on display at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, offer a top-level engine that is comfortable and safe, saving fuel while minimising pollution.
Günter K. Fraidl, Senior Vice President of AVL, a leading engine and powertrain designer that has partnered with VinFast to revise the famous BMW N20 engine, speaks with local media about the advanced engines.
As Senior Vice President in charge of powertrain systems for AVL, could you tell us more about the role of AVL in designing and manufacturing VinFast automobiles?
The VinFast engine was developed based on technology and components licensed from BMW. Magna Steyr has been selected as VinFast’s engineering partner for the development of their new vehicles.
AVL has also been selected to help develop the powertrain, in close collaboration with Magna Steyr.
When did AVL start co-operating with VinFast? How do you evaluate the feasibility of the new Vietnamese brand?
VinFast started market research and car modeling in September 2017. It is expected to debut new products from its manufacturing facility in the northern city of Hải Phòng in June 2019. This means that less than two years since it started its research, the new cars will be available.
The implementation speed of this project goes far beyond world automobile industry standards. As for AVL, this is actually a challenge. But AVL is the most suitable partner for this project, especially when it comes to identifying new partners, convincing them to join and adhering to the strict schedule.
One of AVL’s jobs is to re-design the engine. What is special about the VinFast engine?
With popular engines that must serve global markets, it is impossible to adapt the product to the character of each region and nation. Therefore, VinFast’s approach is to revise the N20 engine – one of the best engines in the world – to meet Vietnamese demands.
The N20’s new-generation Valvetronic system is replaced with a robust and efficient system that helps cut maintenance costs. Meanwhile, steering control is also tailored to the demand of the Vietnamese people.
I assure you that this is one of the best engines in the world, matching the Vietnamese people’s demand. The engine is locally produced by the world’s most modern manufacturing chain, which we imported from Germany to ensure top quality at a competitive price.
How does AVL know how to localise the VinFast engine?
Before designing the powertrain, AVL conducted intensive market research to identify the demands of Vietnamese consumers. We tested driving demands on different test vehicles, which were equipped with the most sophisticated measurement equipment like AVL Drive, and researched specific concerns such as fuel savings, service quality and weather conditions.
We also sent experts to Việt Nam to learn about the Vietnamese people’s driving habits in order to make sure the engine is best suited to the nation’s transport systems and local drivers. This process is very complicated, so the VinFast engine is extremely special. This is the only engine in the world to be tailored to a specific market.
From the view of an expert, how would you evaluate the VinFast engine?
VinFast’s special engine will offer top-level, international-standard driving quality. It will save fuel and minimise pollution emissions, and will be comfortable and safe. It really is suitable for Việt Nam. The cars are made in Việt Nam but with the world’s leading modern manufacturing processes to ensure quality at a reasonable price.
The modern eight-gear ZF 8HP Gearbox will ensure efficient performance and top quality.
Will AVL participate in designing future generations of the VinFast engine?
AVL is pleased to support VinFast in establishing its own R&D capabilities to be able to improve products during the manufacturing process and develop its own technologies. This will be a time-consuming process, but initiatives started from a place of passion have the potential to achieve greatness.
The road to success is not always easy. Has AVL overcome challenges?
Building a new organisation, seeking appropriate members and setting up manufacturing and operating processes is a great challenge, but perhaps the biggest challenge is the project’s timeframe. There is no precedent in the automotive industry. We used existing technologies and established partnerships between VinFast, Magna AVL and other qualified suppliers to overcome this challenge.
Many people have questioned why AVL decided to co-operate with a new automotive company, which has not yet established a reputation in the global automobile industry. Can you provide an explanation?
AVL considers Southeast Asia one of the most promising markets for new brands. With VinFast’s financial resources and strong foundations, we believe they can turn their vision into reality. AVL are honored to be involved and interested in sharing this dream.
In addition, the supply of high-end products and features in such an incredibly short time is an interesting challenge that we were eager to take on.
Anyone sporting a sweet tooth doesn’t have to look hard to find a tasty bakery in Hanoi. The irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread, pastries, cakes, and more can be found around every corner in the city. Check out the top 10 bakeries reviewed by Katie Kalmusky (The Culture Trip‘s contributor) in Hanoi!
O’Douceurs has become one of Hanoi’s most beloved local bakeries since its debut in 2014. It is owned by French Pastry Chef Silen Garrigues, who wanted to bring French quality baked goods to Vietnam. He has definitely delivered; his cakes, truffles, and other fresh delicacies charm tourists and locals alike. Discover this small but cozy bakery and enjoy a fluffy, buttery pain au chocolat with a savory specialty coffee.
S’Patisserie is a stylish bakery with a stunning view of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Owned by the Silk Path Hotel, this bakery aims to deliver tasty, quality desserts and uses organic ingredients whenever possible. Their indulgent cakes and delicious lunch menu invite a regular crowd of hungry patrons. This is the perfect place to enjoy a meal and delightful dessert while seeking refuge from the hot Hanoi air.
This Canadian-owned bakery strives to improve the lives of every customer who enters their shop. Not only do they offer a high-quality, delicious menu, but they also dedicate 10 percent of their profits to various organizations around the city. Their coffee is organic and fair-trade, and for any Canadians who find themselves in Hanoi, their Nanaimo bars are a true taste of home. If you’re looking for breakfast, opt for their incredible oat-crusted French toast that is topped with fresh mangoes and whipped cream.
Saint Honore is a popular bakery that serves a wide variety of top-quality menu items to hungry customers. Their gourmet meals, cheeses, and tempting pastries are slightly more expensive than other local dishes, but the outstanding taste and excellent service make them well worth it. Try the sweet yet refreshing passionfruit cheesecake or one of their buttery, melt-in-your-mouth scones next time you find yourself in Hanoi’s Tây Hồ District.
THE NOTE COFFEE
Bakery, Vietnamese
The Note Coffee is a true gem among Hanoi’s many coffee shops and bakeries. This small shop has breathtaking views of Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the morning and they serve one of the best egg coffees in the city. This cosy shop is so unique because of the thousands of Post-it Notes covering the entire seating area: Chairs, walls, floors, and even the ceilings are covered with heart-warming notes that have been left by past patrons. The cheerful staff deliver a personal note to each customer, and everyone is then encouraged to write their own message for others to see. It is a beautiful way to brighten up your day. Don’t forget to pick up a delicious croissant to accompany your coffee!
Maison Marou in Hanoi’s Diplomatic Quarter is a haven for chocolate lovers. The company is Vietnam’s first bean-to-table bakery that exclusively consists of Vietnamese cocoa. Their chocolates are made of the finest cocoa and are wrapped in exquisite packaging. A visit to their shop is a welcome respite from the busy streets and the perfect excuse to indulge in one of their delectable pastries, brownies, or macarons alongside a rich chocolate drink that is to die for.
MADAME HƯƠNG
Bakery, Vietnamese
Madame Hương is a delicious bakery known for its Vietnamese specialty cakes that are popular during Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. This bakery specializes in various types of traditional Vietnamese cakes such as a mooncake, a thin layer of pastry that’s wrapped around a dense, semi-sweet filling of either mung bean or lotus paste. Aside from the pleasant local desserts, Madame Hương offers other fresh breads, cakes, pastries, and more. Don’t miss the rich chocolate éclairs or the incredible crème brûlée.
Located on the B1 level of the Lotte Hotel in Hanoi, Delica Hans Bakery creates mouth-watering delicacies every day. Their fresh fruit tarts, pastries, and donuts will perfectly satisfy your sweet tooth and are complemented by a rich latte or cappuccino. Their tiramisu cake is a crowd favorite, as are their buttery croissants which may rival those found in Paris. Check out this boutique bakery for a relaxing treat at any time of the day.
KING ROTI
Bakery, Vietnamese
King Roti is a pop-up bakery in Hanoi’s Hoàn Kiếm District. Their simple menu consists of four different flavors of roti buns: vanilla, green tea, classic coffee, and chocolate. The menu may not sound like much, but these irresistible buns have generated hundreds of obsessed fans throughout the city. Crispy on the outside yet moist and warm on the inside, each bun is served to eager customers right out of the oven. Because the prices are so low, many come back for a second (or a third) bun.
The Balcony Coffee and Bakery is a bright cafe that’s tucked away in the city’s Tây Hồ District. The lovely sitting area is awash with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling window and is decorated with small potted plants and quirky wall designs. Their perfectly soft baguettes are adored by the cafe’s regulars, who also rave about the fresh fruit juices and baked desserts. Among the highly-recommended treats are the red velvet cake, passionfruit mousse, and chocolate croissants. This is one cafe you can easily spend an afternoon in, enjoying the tasty menu and beautiful decor.
Traders Fair & Gala night – financial event for traders and investors, which is going to take place in Vietnam on the 24th of November 2018 (Windsor Plaza Hotel, Saigon). The best trading experts, companies, money brokers and banks from all over the world are going to share out their experience and to find out new up-to-date information about cryptocurrency, forex, stocks, futures and options markets. Also Traders Fair & Gala night is going to be full of educational programs and entertainment.
Traders Fair & Gala night, Vietnam is attracting the world of traders to one place during one day. This is the confluence of favorable conditions in one system, which brings profit to its participants. The leaders of the industry are going to come together in one place and to have an exchange of knowledge and experience. No doubt you need expertize and capital to work in the stocks, futures, options and forex markets as it will become the initial ticket to the world of big trade. Participants who have capital while entering the market become investors. And you may be a part of this fabulous event! Educational speeches from top speakers, entertainments, live shows, music and incredible prizes included in the agenda.
Traders Fair & Gala night – Vietnam is organized by FINEXPO, which is the largest company organizing financial and trading events, fairs, expos and shows worldwide since 2002. List of its projects seems quite long. Here you can find Financial Expo, Traders Fair, Traders Awards, Forex & Money Expo, Forex Expo Awards, Money Fair, Investor Expo, Golf Expo, Banking Expo, Online Trading Expo, etc. Over 30000 traders, investors and financial advisors and more than 3 000 financial companies and brokers from Forex, stock, option, bond crypto money and forward markets from all around the world have been connected by FINEXPO. The positive feedback from participants is the best prove of effective and successful work done by FINEXPO.
Traders Fair & Gala night is sponsored by leading brands such as Australian Forex Marketplace (Grand sponsor), FIBOGroup (Silver sponsor), RPNPay, OlympTrade. To say more the organizers of event offer you different variants of recommended accommodation, so you can focus on agenda and don’t lose you time, thinking about accommodation and everything.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court of Cambodia on Tuesday charged three Vietnamese nationals with possessing and trafficking nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine in the province.
Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity.
Lieutenant Colonel Bour Sothy, deputy provincial police chief, yesterday identified the accused as Chang Wang Tao, 50, a carpenter; Sok Ly, 50, a mechanic; and Dam Kimdep 50, a massage shop owner. Khmer Times reports.
He said the accused were charged with possessing and trafficking drugs and were sent by the investigative judge to prison pending trial.
The three accused drug traffickers. Nokor Wat
Lt Col Sothy noted that all three were working with a syndicate to sell drugs to foreign tourists, especially Chinese and Vietnamese in the province.
He noted that Mr Chang was arrested at about 8.30am on Sunday at his rental house in the city’s Pram commune after he sold drugs to an undercover police officer.
Lt Col Sothy said that after his arrest, police seized seven packages of crystal meth and a mobile phone from him.
He noted that during his interrogation, Mr Chang named Mr Sok as an accomplice and police arrested him at about 11am on Sunday at his rental house in the city’s Buon commune. They seized a package of crystal meth and a mobile phone from him as well.
Lt Col Sothy said that after questioning Mr Sok, police at about 3pm on Sunday raided Ms Dam’s massage shop in the city’s Buon commune.
He noted that police arrested her and seized a package of crystal meth and a mobile phone from her.
Lt Col Sothy said the total amount of drugs seized from all three accused weighed nearly half a kilogram.
He noted that to reduce drug trafficking and drug use, police have intensified efforts to identify drug users and traffickers in the province.
Lt Col Sothy urged the public to cooperate with police in the fight against drug crimes.
Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has agreed to nominate Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary as president of the Southeast Asian country, Vietnam’s government said on Oct 3, 2018.
Former president Tran Dai Quang died on Sep 21 at 62, after a prolonged illness, leaving the mainly ceremonial position open.
“The central committee agreed unanimously to propose that the National Assembly vote on the nomination of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, as president,” the government said in an official statement on its website.
Vietnam has no paramount ruler and is officially led by four “pillars”: its president, prime minister, the chief of its Communist Party and the national assembly chair.
If approved, Trong will become the first Vietnamese leader to hold the two titles since founding president and revolutionary Ho Chi Minh.
The 74-year-old party leader has presided over a crackdown on corruption that has seen state executives and a member of the politburo face trial over allegations of financial mismanagement and embezzlement.
“Such an approach would be met with broad scepticism from large shares of the party in public and could easily result in a situation in which a particular leader could impose their will in a way not seen since the strong man regime of Le Duan,” said Jonathan London, a Vietnam expert at Leiden University.
A vote on the nomination will be put to Vietnam’s rubber-stamp National Assembly which is in session later this month.
No other candidates have been proposed for the job.
Reporting by James Pearson; Editing by Nick Macfie on Reuters.
In Vietnam, whenever the monsoon season rolls into, most of locals and expats alike are well-aware and prepared for the obligatory floods that threaten to disrupt daily life, but not enough. A heavy rain last night has submerged many parts of Saigon underwater.
Last night Oct 03, 2018, a heavier than usual downpours flood HCMC area, from D. 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc and Go Vap | Image source: vnexpress.netHCMC ranks among the top 10 cities in the world most likely to be severely affected by climate change. The city’s flood management system is at the edge of its capacity. | Image source: vnexpress.netDuring the rainy season residents are confronted with flooding in the low lying areas and also in the central districts. The problems occur between August and December; at spring tide twice a month for several days in a row and twice daily. | Image source: vnexpress.netThe main causes of flooding are high tide, heavy rain and high discharge from the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers combined with strong urbanisation. The flooding causes inconvenience and damages and needs a swift solution. Land subsidence and increase of sea level rise and heavy rain due to climate change contribute to an even more difficult situation. | Image source: vnexpress.netThe city’s $440 million anti-flood project is scheduled for completion in April next year, and should save around 6.5 million people, or more than half of the city’s population, from constant flooding. | Image source: vnexpress.netBut there have been concerns over delays as site clearance is not moving along as quickly as expected. | Image source: vnexpress.netAs the monsoon season rolls into Vietnam, most residents, locals and foreigners alike are well-aware and prepared for the obligatory floods that threaten to disrupt daily life. Image source: vnexpress.netn previous years parts of Ho Chi Minh City managed to escape the floods due to varying reasons from having a better drainage system or being blessed at being on higher ground. Image source: vnexpress.net
Opening at StarLake to join South Korean retailer’s HCMC outlet.
South Korean retail group E-Mart plans to build its first hypermarket in Hanoi, at the StarLake urban area.
According to an announcement from StarLake, THT and E-Mart & THT Development (developer of StarLake project) signed an investment agreement in September pertaining to the transfer of commercial land lots B1CC1 and B1CC2 within the StarLake project.
Thanks to the irresistible enchantment of StarLake, its location and environment, E-Mart decided to spread its unwavering dedication to serving customers in Hanoi by becoming an indispensable part of StarLake.
The combination of THT and E-Mart promises to transcend future living standards in Hanoi in general and for StarLake’s residents in particular, furnishing unparalleled facilities and services.
Based on the vision of a company focusing on customers’ value of life, E-Mart constantly endeavors to enhance customers’ daily life with joy and cheerfulness, offering the most attractive prices. Such vision is passionately embraced and appreciated by Vietnamese customers, as evidenced by the massive numbers visiting E-Mart’s first hypermarket in Ho Chi Minh City, set up in late 2015 with investment capital of $60 million.
The new hypermarket in Hanoi will sell food, household items, and clothing made in South Korea and will also have entertainment for children, restaurants, and cinemas to provide convenience and comfort to customers. E-Mart plans to invest in commercial facilities, including hypermarkets and supermarkets, by 2020 with total investment capital of $200 million, and plans to open 50 stores in Vietnam during the next five years.
Established in 1993, E-Mart has blossomed as the leading retail enterprise in Asia with over 160 hypermarkets and megamalls now operating in South Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia. After the acquisition of Walmart Korea in 2006, E-Mart has been rapidly growing its number of outlets, with differentiated quality of service being its unique Asian identity and harmonized with Western professionalism.
Google has announced the removal of 56 gambling applications from its Google Play store because the games were not compliant with Vietnam’s established laws, according to Deputy Director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information Le Quang Tu Do.
Google’s removal of the apps following a request from Vietnam was an important step in the co-operation between the technology giant and the Ministry of Information and Communications in preventing malicious information online and on social networks.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc previously asked for enhanced co-operation with global technology firms to prevent the spread of malicious information.
All 56 games which were removed were in Vietnamese, targeting Vietnamese users.
Of them, 16 games were reported to violate Google Play rules, including illegally exploiting users’ data. These games were removed from Google Play on a global scale.
The other 40 games were removed in Vietnam following a request by the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.
The apps included Vua bài, Đánh bài online, Tiến lên miền Nam, Mậu binh Xập xám, Game bài lá online, Phỏm online, Game bài cào and Game ba lá.
The Vietnamese ministry stopped licensing games which used cards or emulated casinos years ago.
The Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information previously sent a document to Google and Apple asking for co-operation in limiting Vietnamese users downloading such games on their app stores.
Helena Lersch, Google’s head for Public Policy and Government Relations for the Asia – Pacific, was quoted in a note on the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information’s website as saying that Google did not allow any content or services related to online gambling.
However, to remove inappropriate content, the apps must be flagged and reported to Google.
Lersch said that Google had a group working 24/7 on flagged inappropriate content.
The instant coffee market, including capsules and pods, is heating up, but analysts believe there are still opportunities for newcomers.
In late August, Nutifood joined the coffee market by launching Nuticafe iced milk coffee. One month before, Vinamit, known as a dried fruit producer, also jumped into the market by introducing Espresso Coffee, a dried fresh coffee.
Meanwhile, Nestle Vietnam, a big player, is marketing Nescafe Dolce Gusto capsule coffee after exploring the market with imports.
A senior executive of Nutifood commented that the competition is cutthroat, with many domestic and foreign brands.
Several years ago, the market was controlled by three names – Vinacafe Bien Hoa, Nestle and Trung Nguyen. Now, there are many new names such as TNI (King Coffee), Ajinomoto (Birdy), Phindeli and others, though they hold a small market share.
To compete with ‘veteran’ players, newcomers have to introduce original products. Nuticafe, for example, is produced by extracting and concentrating coffee at the temperature below 0oC which allows to maintain the freshness and natural aroma of roasted coffee. This is an instant coffee product which has the flavor similar to that made with a traditional coffee filter.
Vinamit’s coffee product is processed from fresh coffee, blended and frozen to powder, with the color and flavor kept intact. Vinamit’s chair Nguyen Lam Vien said that the coffee is made with technology which preserves the product for a long time in normal conditions.
In 2017 alone, Nutifood spent VND1 trillion on projects developing high-quality coffee growing area in Dak Lak province, especially Phuoc An Farm. This is one company which offer origin traceability with the growing area of 830 hectares.
According to the Vietnam Coffee & Cocoa Association, the instant coffee market grows by 8-10 percent per annum. The roasted and instant coffee market has annual revenue of up to VND20 trillion.
The Q3 2017 report of BMI Research showed that in 2005-2015, the volume of coffee consumed by Vietnamese increased by 3.5 times, from 0.43 kilograms per head to 1.38 kilograms, and the figure is expected to rise to 2.6 kilograms by 2021.
Analysts commented that though the domestic market is crowded, there are still opportunities for brands which can introduce new original products.
Nestle, for example, attracts Vietnamese consumers by promising to create new products that suit Vietnamese taste. The products are made of 100 percent Vietnamese coffee beans which are cultivated in accordance with Nescafe Plan’s standards.
Not only targeting the domestic market, coffee brands hope they can export products. Vien of VInamit said the company has exported two tons of dried fresh coffee to the US market.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Nguyen Phu Trong delivered an opening speech at the CPVCC’s 8th session on Tuesday, suggesting issues regarding socioeconomic development, the Vietnam Maritime Strategy, and party building.
Trong asked for clarification of the reasons why several maritime and coastal economic development targets are difficult to be reached in 2020, the sea-based economy develops slowly, and the investment in developing coastal infrastructure, especially the seaport system, remains ineffective, Vietnam News Agency reported.
It is also necessary to clarify shortcomings in the planning of coastal areas and several sectors, sea pollution, complicated developments of climate change and sea level rise and their negative impacts, and inefficient state management on seas and islands, he stated.
At the five-day session, the CPVCC’s Political Bureau delivered a report reviewing the 10-year implementation of the resolution of the 10th CPVCC’s 4th meeting on the Vietnam Maritime Strategy towards 2020.
The Party Committee of the Vietnamese government proposed to the CPVCC a new resolution on the Vietnam Maritime Strategy until 2030 with a vision to 2045.
The Political Bureau also suggested the establishment of five sub-committees on documents, socioeconomic affairs, party regulations, personnel and organization to serve the 13th national party congress; the introduction of personnel for the post of state president to Vietnam’s top legislature; the election of additional members of the 12th CPVCC’s Inspection Commission; and taking disciplinary measures against officials in line with party regulations.
Some high-ranking officials, both retired and incumbent, have seriously violated party disciplines and state laws, sparking concerns among officials, party members and people, Trong said.
Given this, the Political Bureau has agreed with the proposal of the CPVCC to issue a new regulation on the responsibility for setting examples of officials and party members.
